Topic:Mindfulness
Mindfulness and horses is a topic that explores the interaction between human mindfulness practices and therapies and equine behavior and welfare. Mindfulness, a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, is increasingly being applied in equine-assisted activities and therapies. This field examines how mindfulness techniques can influence horse-human interactions, potentially affecting stress levels, communication, and bonding. Research in this area investigates the physiological and psychological impacts of mindfulness on both horses and humans, including changes in heart rate variability, cortisol levels, and behavioral responses. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that analyze the applications, outcomes, and implications of incorporating mindfulness in equine contexts.
Evaluation of a mindfulness and self-compassion-based psychotherapy incorporating horses for Veterans who have experienced trauma. The primary aim of this pilot study was to assess the safety, feasibility, acceptability, as well as preliminary outcomes of a mindfulness and self-compassion-based psychotherapy incorporating horses (PIH) intervention, Whispers with Horses, for Veterans who had experienced trauma. Whispers with Horses was developed as a structured intervention that could be easily replicated for additional studies. If shown to be effective by future rigorous research, the aim is to disseminate a manualized version of the intervention to the field. Methods: Prospective open trial. Methods: A large Veterans Adm...
Acceptability of an adjunct equine-assisted activities and therapies program for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder and/or traumatic brain injury. Equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAATs) have been a growing adjunctive integrative health modality, as they allow participants to practice mindfulness, emotional regulation, and self-mastery or self-esteem building skills. Preliminary evidence suggests that these programs may be helpful in reducing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depressive symptoms. The current study examines the acceptability of integrating an EAAT program as part of a two-week, intensive clinical program for veterans with PTSD and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: A family member or suppo...
Equine-assisted therapy for anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptoms. We tested the efficacy of the Equine Partnering Naturally(©) approach to equine-assisted therapy for treating anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Participants were 16 volunteers who had experienced a Criterion A traumatic event, such as a rape or serious accident, and had current PTSD symptoms above 31 on the PTSD Checklist (PCL-S; Weathers, Litz, Herman, Huska, & Keane, ). Participants engaged in tasks with horses for 6 weekly 2-hour sessions. Immediately following the final session, participants reported significantly reduced posttraumatic stress symptoms, d = 1.2...